The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs 18-5 last night at PNC Park in the opening game of a four-game series. Pirates first baseman Josh Bell hit three home runs and drove in seven. The Pirates had 23 hits in the game and scored in every inning but the third. Adam Frazier and Colin Moran had five hits a piece. Jung Ho Kang added his seventh home run of the year and Jose Osuna hit a pinch-hit home run, his fifth of the year.
Pirates starting pitcher Trevor Williams earned his third win of the season, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in 5-2/3rds innings.
The Bucs and Cubs meet again tonight at 7:05pm. WISR pre-game is 6:40pm. Joe Musgrove will start for the Pirates. Kyle Hendricks returns from the Injured List and will start for Chicago.
The Pirates remained five games behind first-place Milwaukee after the Brewers came from behind to defeat Cincinnati 8-6 last night.
